On October 25thwe had the pleasure of welcoming Pat Winter from the Darrell Cook Family Managed Resource Centre as a special guest at Autism Calgary to discuss what this center has to offer and give our families an opportunity for discussion.  Several families attended the session, some already receiving Family Managed Services (FMS), and some just preparing for the transition to adulthood. Family Managed Services is an option offered by the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program (PDD):  (http://www.seniors.alberta.ca/pdd/) for families who would like to select and hire their own staff to oversee the support of an adult with a developmental disability.  Family Managed can apply to day programming, supported living arrangements or both.

Pat explained that she would ideally like to meet with families before they begin the process with PDD to explore what their vision is for the family member in their care.  She explained that the resource center offers assistance in the following areas: the hiring process, practical assistance in this regard, educational workshops, connecting families, and creating a vision for the adult in your care.

Pat does do some home visits to meet with families. The Darrell Cook Family Managed Resource Centre also can help in advocacy and legal advice is available.

In regards to employment, Pat mentioned a new joint initiative between Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL) and the Rotarians called the Employment Partnership: http://www.aacl.org/PartnershipsProjects/RotaryEmploymentPartnership/tabid/104/Default.aspx.

These are some of the comments and concerns that came up that evening:

• One of the parents expressed concerns about the risk that families take often when they have their adult in the community.  This relates to the risks of challenging behaviors in public – and how other behaviors may be interpreted.   As a family with FMS you may find yourself without an advocate, without the protection of an agency. It may be your family against a system. Who can be there to advocate and help the family? On this same point, adults with complex needs may face liability issues. How can a FMS family advocate and support their adult effectively?
• Unfortunately, the FMS program does not offer funding for families to offer employee benefits.  Hence, prospective employees may be more attracted to work with an agency.
• Training was another area brought up at the meeting. A lot of the training of staff happens within agencies. Families at the presentation asked where can this type of training be found for staff of FMS? . It was suggested that Vecova , Supported Lifestyles and Vantage may have accessible training for FMS families.
• Columbia College was mentioned as a post-secondary option for our adults
• DRES-was mentioned as a source of funding to support employment
• On a positive note, parents emphasized that they enjoyed being able to hire individuals more closely in tune to their own family value system.

 It was a fruitful meeting in that we many common concerns were raised.  Family Managed Services is still a fairly new option, there is a lot of development still to happen before it reaches its full potential.